Ladle tilting apparatus



United States Patent Inventor William D. Smith III 14310 Parnell Ave., Harvey. 111. 60426 Appl. No. 804,638 Filed Mar. 5, 1969 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 664,787. Aug. 31 1967, abandoned Patented Dec. 29, 1970 LADLE TlLTlNG APPARATUS 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 222/166, 266/38 Int. Cl B67d 5/64 Field of Search 222/166, 164. 180; 248/142; 298/192; 294/73, 75; 214/317, 318; 266/38 {56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,881,488 4/1959 Schweinberg 222/164 2.903.292 9/1959 Himel. Jr. 294/75 2,910,746 1 1/1959 Schweinberg ZZZ/164 3.047.916 8/1962 OBrien 294/73 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, .lr. Attorney-Rea C. Helm ABSTRACT: Ladle-tilting apparatus including a terminal member supported by a bracket on the side of a ladle in such a manner that it may be lifted off the bracket by a crane hook without manual hooking. Chains run from the lower end of the terminal member to the bottom of the ladle so that the ladle may be tilted by lifting the terminal member. After tilting, the terminal member is returned to the bracket and the crane hook disengaged without manual unhooking.

PATENTED UEC29 I976 SHEET 1 BF 2 Iii/MENTOR WILL /AM 0. SMITHZZZ' Attorney PATENTEU M229 I970 SHEET 2 [1F 2.

INVENTOR' WILL/AM 0 SIM/THE Afl'm ey LADLE TILTING APPARATUS This application, which is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 664,787, now abandoned filed Aug. 3 l 1967, relates to apparatus for tilting ladles containing material such as molten iron, steel, or slag so as to discharge the material by rotating the ladle aroundits trunnion axis.

There are many methods for tilting ladles, a common method is to lift one side of the ladle by an auxiliary crane hoist while the ladle is suspended by its trirnnion axis by the main crane hoist. Apparatus for ladle tilting is shown in O- Brien, us. Pat. NO. 3,047,916 dated Aug. 7, 1962 and Mazarakus, US. Pat. No. 3,200,453 dated Aug. 17, 1965. There are a variety of methods of attachingfthe auxiliary crane hook to the ladle which eliminate manual crane hooking which is undesirable because of safety and efficiency. Most of these devices are mechanically complicated enough to present problems in fabrication and maintenance.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a ladle tilting device that can be operated by the crane operator efficiently and safely.

Another object is to provide such apparatus .that will completely upend the ladle and require a minimum amount of maintenance.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the tilting apparatus and the ladle with a cutaway to show chains attachedto the ladle bottom;

FIG. 2, is a partial side view showing the tilting apparatus in use; A

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bracket and a part of the ladle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal member of the preferred embodiment; a

FIG.- 5 is a side view of the terminal memb r of a first alternative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the terminal member of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the terminal member of a second alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is an end view of the terminal member of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a ladle containing materials such as molten iron, steel','or slag. The ladle 2 is provided with diametrically opposed trunnions 4 which act as pivotal supports by means of crane hooks 6. A bracket 8 having a generally horizontal leg 10 with an upwardly extending generally vertical finger 12 at its outer end is attached to the ladle 2 approximately 90 around the ladle from the trunnions 4.- Adjacent the center of the ladle bottom are two lugs 14 having openings 16 with their axes generally parallel to the trunnion axis. Supports 18 project from the bottom of the ladle. one beneath each trunnion 4.

A terminal member 19 includes-a supporting ring 20 and a lifting ring 22. The supporting ring 20 is adapted'to fit over the finger 12 and rest on the horizontal leg 10 of the bracket 8 between the finger 12 and the ladle side. The lifting ring 22 is attached at right angles to the lower end of the supporting ring minimal slack is taken out of the chains 24 and the top of the supporting ring 20 bears against the ladle 2. Continued upthe crane hook 26, and while lowering the crane book 26 it is a 20 and projects outwardly from the ladle when the supporting ring 20 rests on the horizontal leg 10 as shown in FIG. 1. I

One end of a length of chain 24 is connected to each lug l4 and the other end of each length of chain 24 is connected to the lower portion of the supporting ring 20, spaced apart the approximate width of the supporting ring 20. The chains 24 are installed tight with minimal slack making it difficult for rings 20 and 22 to disengage over finger 12 while ladle 2 hangs in its vertical position.

In operation, with the ladle 2 suspended on crane hook 6 and the rings 20 and 22 positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the ladle 2 is tilted by engaging a counterbalanced crane hook 26 in the lifting ring 22 and then raising the crane hook 26. The crane hook 26 is usually lifted by an auxiliary hoist, not shown, with auxiliary hoist hook 28 engaged in the counterbalanced crane hook shackle 30, although counterbalanced hook 26 may be directly connected to the hoist. The initial movement rotates the supporting ring 20 and the lifting ring 22 until the relatively simple crane maneuver for the crane operator, without assistance, to lower the supporting ring 20, now in a horizontal position, down over the projecting finger 12 and onto the generally horizontal leg 10. When the supporting ring 20 rests on the bracket 8, continued downward motion will then allow the ladle 2 to rotate back to its vertical position. Further downward movement then disengages crane hook 26 from the lifting ring 22. d d

The supports 18 serve as a partial guard to protect the lugs 14 and the chains 24 from damage while the ladle 2 rests on the floor or ground. The chains 24 must be long enough so that the supporting ring 20 can swing clear-of the projecting finger 12. A-single chain could be used instead of two chains 24, but the two chains are preferred for stability and as an increased measure of safety. Wire rope could be used in place of the chains 24. 1

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a terminal member 32 is substituted for the terminal member 19. The member-32 consists of two triangular shaped plates 34 separated by a spacer 36 at one vertex adapted to engage hook 26, a second spacer 38 at a second vertex which supports the terminal member 32 on horizontal leg 10 of bracket 8, and a pin 40 held in place' by are preferably connected by welding.

- The embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as that of FIGS. 5 and 6 except that spaced apart brackets 8 are substituted for bracket 8 and a spacer 38' is substituted for spacer 38. The spacer 38 projects outwardly from the plates 34 and supports terminal member 32' between the brackets 8'. In addition, a plate 40 may be provided between-plates 34 to give terminal member 32' additional strength.

The operation of these two alternative embodiments is similar to the operation with the double ring terminal member 19. However, the hook 26 is easier to engage, and disengage in the alternative embodiments. In addition, the return of the terwardly from the outer end of the horizontal leg in spaced relationship with the side of the ladle; a terminal member including means adapted to be supported on said generally horizontal leg between said finger and said ladle'side, and lifting means spaced outwardly from said first-named means when said terminal member is supported on said generally horizontal leg; flexible means having one end attached to said terminal member; and means attaching the other end of said flexible means to the bottom of ladle; and the spatial arrangement of the first named means, the lifting means, and the attachment of the lifting means to the terminal member forming a triangle, said lifting means adapted tobe engaged by a movable hook to raise said terminal member from said horizontal ported on said gen 'rally horizontal leg.

cludes ladle bottom supports projecting downwardly from the bottom of the ladle below said flexible means and said attaching means when said first ring is supported on said generally horizontal leg.

5. A ladle-tilting apparatus according to claim 1 in which said terminal member includes a pair of spaced-apart, vertically aligned, triangular-shaped plates, said lifting means includes a first spacer bar connecting said plates at one vertex of the plates and adapted to engage said hook in the space between said plates, said first-names means includes a second spacer bar connecting said plates at a second vertex and adapted to fit over said horizo ntal leg, and said flexible means is connected to said terminal memberat the third vertex of the plates.

6. A ladle-tilting apparatus according to claim 5 in which said flexible means includes two lengths of chain with one end of each length of chain connected to the third vertex of the plates, and said attaching means includes two centrally disposed spaced-apart lugs attached to the bottom of said ladle along a line generally parallel to the trunnion axis. the

other end of each length of chain being connected respectively to said spaced-apart lugs.

7. A ladle-tilting apparatus according to claim 6 which includes ladle bottom supports projecting downwardly from the bottom of the ladle below said. flexible means and said attaching means when said support 'means' is on said generally horizontal leg.

8. A ladle-tilting apparatus according to claim 5 which in- I cludes a second bracket connected to the ladle side in spaced relationship with the first bracket, and projections extending outwardly from each plate at the second vertex adapted to be 7 supported on said first and second brackets.

9. A ladle-tilting apparatus according to claim 8 in which said flexible means includes two lengths of chain with one end of each length of chain connected to the third vertex of the plates and said attaching means includes two centrally disposed spaced-apart lugs attached to the bottom of said ladle along a line generally parallel to the trunnion axis, the

other end of each length of chain being connected respectively to said spaced-apart lugs.

10. A ladle-tilting apparatus according to claim 9 which in cludes ladle bottom supports projecting downwardly from the.

bottom of the ladle below said flexible means and said at taching means when said support means is on said generally:

horizontal leg. 

